diff --git a/src/System.Management.Automation/engine/hostifaces/InternalHostUserInterface.cs b/src/System.Management.Automation/engine/hostifaces/InternalHostUserInterface.cs
index acfd0b5a1e..366a76902c 100644
--- a/src/System.Management.Automation/engine/hostifaces/InternalHostUserInterface.cs
+++ b/src/System.Management.Automation/engine/hostifaces/InternalHostUserInterface.cs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace System.Management.Automation.Internal.Host
 
         public override bool SupportsVirtualTerminal
         {
-            get { return _externalUI.SupportsVirtualTerminal; }
+            get { return (_externalUI != null) ? _externalUI.SupportsVirtualTerminal : false; }
         }
 
         /// <summary>